Navigating the Green Path: Workshop on Optimizing Bio-Based Plastic Waste Management in Europe
Two workshops on Optimizing Bio-Based Plastic Waste Management in Europe have been held on 3rd Octobre in Estonia and on 5th Octobre in Lithuania. The events were organised as part of the Historic Cities against Plastic Waste (HISCAP) network series.
Part 1 of the workshop series took place on Tuesday, 3rd of October in Tallinn and was hosted by Tallin University of Technology (TalTech). The presentations about plastic management and circular economy were highly inspiring. Carolyn Brand from Prospex Institute (PI) opened the day by giving a brief overview on the goals and tasks of BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE. Žaneta Stasiškienė from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) then held a presentation on “Changing the way we think about plastics”. Afterwards, Liina Kanarbik from Tallinna Linnavalitsus followed up with a practical case, sharing good practices in circular economy and plastics management in Tallinn Municipality. This was complemented by Žaneta Stasiškienė who got into the details of the impact of biodegradable and compostable bio-based plastics on waste management technologies and systems. The last point on the agenda before lunch break was a group work, followed by a presentation on funding opportunities for sustainable plastics and circular economy by Viktoria Voronova (TalTech). The first event of the series was concluded by a panel and roundtable discussion.
Part 2 of the HISCAP series was hosted by Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and took place on 5th October in Vilnius. The second workshop day was again started by an introduction to BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE by Carolyn Brand (PI) and a presentation on promoting changing attitudes towards plastics by Žaneta Stasiškienė (KTU). Afterwards, group work was scheduled which was followed by a presentation by Žaneta Stasiškienė, illustrating the impact of bio-based biodegradable and compostable plastics on waste management technologies and systems by incorporating inspiring business cases, show case studies and best practices. After a lunch break, feedback on the group work was provided to the participants and another group work was conducted. Feedback for this group assignment was provided after a short coffee break and the second workshop day was concluded by a panel discussion and final wrap up.
Both events were professionally anchored by Carolyn Brand from Prospex Institute.